Morrow, Ga.----Clayton State rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to take a 56-54 NCAA Division II women's basketball victory over number 21 Wingate Saturday night in The Loch. The contest was the fourth and final game of the South Atlantic Conference-Peach Belt Conference Challenge, hosted by Clayton State.
 
Madison Newby led the CSU Lakers with 15 points. She made nine-of-14 free throws Saturday. Taneria Wilson had 11 points off the Clayton State bench. For the WU Bulldogs, senior guard Caroline Averette had 12 points in a reserve role. Sophomore forward Teliyah Jeter led both teams with 10 rebounds.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: Clayton State 56, #21 Wingate 54
Records: #21 Wingate 1-1, Clayton State 2-0
Location: The Loch, Morrow, Ga.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Wingate held its opponent to 56 points for the second consecutive game.
-The Bulldogs outrebounded the Lakers 41-27.
-Wingate made 26 turnovers which CSU converted into 17 points.
-The Lakers had 20 miscues which the Bulldogs turned into 14 points.
-Wingate's bench outscored the Clayton State reserves 30-19.
-The Bulldogs hit 13-of-15 free throws (86.7 percent).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Wingate led 17-16 after the first 10 minutes. Clayton State started strong, taking a 9-2 lead on a Newby fast-break bucket at the 6:16 mark. The Bulldogs finished the frame on a 10-2 run, taking the aforementioned 17-16 lead on a fast-break lay-up by freshman guard Jo Snow (on an Averette assist) with 24 seconds left.
 
Second Quarter
 
Wingate led the entire quarter, taking a 29-21 lead on an Averette jumper (in the paint) with 3:40 left. The eight-point margin was Wingate's largest lead of the evening. The Bulldogs led 31-23 at intermission. Averette led both teams with 10 points.
 
Third Quarter

Clayton State outscored Wingate 19-10 in the third quarter. A Jeter hoop made the score 37-30 Wingate with 4:29 to play. The Bulldogs would make only one field goal the rest of the quarter as the Lakers crept back into the contest. Two free throws by Velencia Johnson gave Clayton State a 42-41 lead with 20 seconds left, a margin the Lakers would carry into the final frame.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
The fourth quarter was tied on three occasions (45, 48 and 52). Johnson made the biggest bucket of the game with 1:43 to play, draining the fifth of Clayton State's five three-point field goals to make the score 55-52 Lakers.
 
Wingate senior guard Courtney Robinson made two free throws to pull the Bulldogs within one (55-54) at the 53-second mark. After a CSU offensive foul, Wingate had a chance to take the lead, but could not convert.
 
Newby made one free throw with 16 seconds left to settle the final margin. The Bulldogs had two shots in the waning moments (one at the buzzer), but could not get either to fall.
 
TURNING POINTS
 
Clayton State made two of its five three-point field goals in the pivotal third quarter.

QUOTEABLES
 
Wingate head coach Ann Hancock: "These two games were learning experiences against very good teams. Clayton Sate has size, experience and puts lots of pressure on you defensively. We had too many turnovers as well as put them on the line too many times to be successful. We have to be able to get shots on crucial possessions of the game. Our effort was good but our execution must improve."

ON THE HORIZON
 
The Bulldogs will play their third Peach Belt Conference team in as many outings Tuesday, hosting Francis Marion. Tip-off in Wingate's Cuddy Arena is slated for 7 p.m.